Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday March 27, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen

The sun is shining mightily but it is not having much of an effect on winter. So the Canadian Coast Guard will help things along with a little ice-breaking in Midland Bay on Tuesday.

Recap:  Wednesday last week was the public meeting on the “taxi issue”. About 35 people in attendance including the four taxi companies. Good ideas presented both for and against metering and what the “fare level” should be. The matter will now go before a meeting of Council.

Recap: Thursday last week was the public meeting on the “Employment Area report”. Forty people attended, including some of our Town’s major employers. The message from those who spoke was unequivocal – they wanted more flexibility with our industrial land designation. All agreed that this was a critical issue for our economic future.

Monday March 28th at your Council meets in camera at the NSSRC to discuss “personnel matters”. Then at is the regular Council meeting. Items on the agenda include:
-          a deputation by Ms. Trudeau to rename the
Park Road
through Little Lake Park.
-          A Public Meeting to get your input on the new Fees and Charges schedule affecting a number of Town services, such as secondary suite inspections
-          Decisions on a number of upcoming summer events including:
o        The downtown Farmers Market
o        Party of the Dock
o        Canada Day Parade
-          Presentation of our proposal for the joint police service to cover Midland and Penetanguishene

On Wednesday March 30th, two items:
-          at at the NSSRC is the Askennonia AGM
-          at at the Library is an in camera meeting of Council to discuss its strategic plan. Its expected with the in camera items out of the way, the next meeting will be open to the public.

And on Friday at Garfield Dunlop MPP has invited area politicians to a meeting at the Elmvale Community Centre to hear concerns about the provincial growth plan. This is the same growth plan that gave us our joint urban growth node designation.

In closing please remember that we need beds for our hospital. Please vote every day at http://www.refresheverything.ca/light-registration.


Gord McKay

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday March 20, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen

The tulips have started to show in the gardens and our neighbourhood discussions have turned from snowplowing to getting the sand off of the roads – must be spring.

The week starts with a County Council meeting on Tuesday March 22nd at down in Midhurst. Among the many items being debated:
-          what to do with the now surplus Site 41 lands. A recent proposal by Dr. Bill Shotyk to turn part of the site into a “Water Institute” has been well received.
-          our own Deputy Mayor Kramp has asked the County to revisit its approach to heavy waste pick-up. Heavy waste will also be the subject of a public meeting to be held in Midland soon – date to be announced.
Then at on Tuesday, Meridian Credit Union celebrates the Business Women of the Year with a special awards ceremony at the Brooklea starting at . Please come out and honour our best.

On Wednesday March 23rd at the Midland Curling Club it is “Curl with the Pros”. The event runs from to .  Your chance to see some of the best curlers in the world plus raise some money for our own Georgian Bay General Hospital.

Later that Wednesday the Town will be hosting a special meeting at at the NSSRC to discuss our taxi service in Midland. Many citizens have expressed interest in the recent proposed change to introduce meters to our taxis.  This is your chance to come out and tell your politicians what you want to see in a taxi service.

The Town will host its second special public meeting on Thursday March 24th at at the NSSRC.  This meeting will allow further input to the Town’s Employment Area review. The meeting will help the Town decide what parts of the Town should be zoned for industry and where people will be working. These decisions will affect the economic future of our municipality.

And to close the week a groundbreaking for the new hotel being constructed off of Highway 12 by the OPP building. Mr. DeSantis and local politicians will be wielding shovels around .


Please remember to vote at http://www.refresheverything.ca/light-registration for our needed hospital beds.  We are up to number 15.


Gord McKay
                                                                                              


Sunday, March 13, 2011

Sunday March 13, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen

March Break is upon us. I suspect that you have better things to do than read about the Town so I will keep this short.

The Province and County invite you to an Active Transportation policy workshop at the Springwater Council Chambers,
2231 Nursery Rd
in Midhurst on Monday March 14th from -.

Then at that same day is your General Committee at the NSSRC. It boasts one of the longest agendas I have ever seen including:
-          announcement of a water conservation initiative that will give away 180 rain barrels plus provide a rebate for new low flush toilets
-          on the economic development front you will hear details about the hotel to be built on highway 12, plus the plans for the new Shoppers Drug Mart
-          summary of the financial impact of last years tornado
-          discussion of what Midland should do with its heavy waste pick-up
-          updates on three important initiatives:
o        our police services proposal to Penetanguishene
o        the taxi by-law review and
o        the Council’s strategic plan

This Saturday March 19th at , the Midland Area Reading Council starts its speaker’s series at our public library. The first presentation is by the University of Toronto on our amazing universe.


And lastly, please remember we need beds for our hospital. Vote at http://www.refresheverything.ca/light-registration.


Gord McKay
                                                                                              

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Sunday March 6, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen

The March lion was wreaking havoc last night. I was thinking about putting the snowblower away – but not yet.

Recap – The Community Garden group had its first meeting last Monday. Very well attended – lots of energy. Looks like we will have our first community garden in Midland this year.

This Tuesday March 8th the “Urban Growth Node” working groups of the two municipalities will meet internally to review the results of the recent consultations. The many good ideas from these public meetings will be prepared as a report and then reviewed by Midland and Penetanguishene Councils over the next month(s).  More details will be provided as they become available.

Wednesday March 9th at   NSSRC is the Planning and Development Committee meeting. A busy agenda including;
- a zoning change at 1001 Franke Kindred Rd. to accommodate a proposed recycling plant
- presentation of the site plan for the new Shoppers Drug Mart
- discussion of the protocol the Town will adopt for locating new telecommunication towers in Midland. The protocol identifies the rights and responsibilities of Council and the public in making these decisions
- update on our Employment Area Review process - including the additional public meeting set for March 24th at 7:00 pm at the NSSRC. An important meeting.

On Friday March 11th the Mental Health facility in Penetanguishene will be holding a special ceremony to announce its research partnership with the University of Toronto. This partnership will mean new jobs and opportunities for our whole area.

And please remember we need beds for our hospital. Please vote every day at http://www.refresheverything.ca/light-registration.


Gord McKay